Watertown, the fifth studio album from Brothers Osborne, just arrived (on MCA). Named for the waterfront community of Deale, Maryland, where brothers John and TJ Osborne grew up, the eleven-track collection returns to the sound and spirit of their beginnings: honest, rough-edged and rural. They reunite with longtime producer Jay Joyce, known for his work with Eric Church and Lainey Wilson, and for the first time on a full-length record they open the door to guests. Cody Johnson, the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, lends his powerhouse voice to the opener, “Born and Raised Hell.” As always, Mr. Johnson is a solid addition to any recording. In addition, Stephen Wilson Jr. adds to an insightful song titled “Tough Kid”.
The album opens with “Born and Raised Hell”, a great introduction to the record that captures the amazement of looking back on life, a nostalgia delivered with brutal honesty. Cody Johnson is a perfect fit alongside the brothers, and the guitar work soars. “R.I.P.” kicks up the energy at once, putting the listener in a truck barreling down a country road at a brisk speed, kicking up dust and taking some crazy turns. “Family Business” is a no-holds-barred conversation about the complicated relationships within a family, and it showcases the brothers’ keen gift for turning observations into agreeable lyrics and powerful songs. “High” is a compelling song that leaves room for interpretation. And that is a strength. While it is not entirely clear whether it is about a substance and its effects, or a relationship, or likely an intertwining bit of both, the point is made
The mood turns more inviting with “Bottle It Up”, which makes strong use of its vocal arrangement and creates a song you find yourself singing along to. “Well, Ain’t Killed Me Yet” carries the confident bravado of Southern rock’s long heritage, reaching back strongly to the influences of the brothers’ youth. At heart it is a country song celebrating survival, through all the things you maybe shouldn’t have done but did anyway, and, as the title says, it ain’t killed you yet. “Doors” is introspective, a song about life’s lessons built around the lyric that when one door slams, it’s a good thing God made more. Its sentiment is useful to remember and the lyric gains strength with repeated listening. “Stubborn” is another introspective track, and these inward songs feel like musical thoughts, where a passing thought, once turned into a song, gains complications and different perspectives.
On “Tough Kid”, with Stephen Wilson Jr. as featured vocalist, the album’s gift for portraiture is on full display. By the second or third verse, you realize it is not as simple as it seems: the kid who may be bullying someone turns out, on closer discovery, to be the victim of bullying at home. The Brothers Osborne are adept at searching out and revealing the many dimensions of life, even the more troubling or violent sides. “Same Ol’ Different Story” opens with the welcome chords of a Southern gospel, rock and blues vibe, and its arrangement, chorus, atmosphere and Hammond organ combine into a soothing reassurance. It is the perfect summation of an album in which the brothers return, in many ways, to the sound of their earlier recordings, and it reminds fans that although their music continues to grow and progress, they still do what they have always done very well, and even better. The title track, “Watertown”, closes the record as a true homecoming, a song about the Maryland coast and a reminder of just how deeply personal this album is.
Ultimately, Watertown is an album about what we survive, and the perspective we gain from having survived. It’s about returning to the things we may already know, and the bravery to know them more deeply. That is exactly what Brothers Osborne do here, with honesty, humor and a remarkable eye for the details of ordinary lives. Cody Johnson and Stephen Wilson Jr. add fresh voices without disturbing the album’s heart, and Jay Joyce’s production keeps everything rough-edged and real. It is a homecoming in every sense, and a confident reminder of why this duo remains one of country music’s most compelling acts.
